D3 WEEK DAY 1: AMCC LAUNCHES FIRST CONFERENCE-WIDE COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT

Apr 01, 2019

The AMCC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) joined together in 2019 to participate in the first-ever conference-wide community service project, SAAC for Socks. AMCC student-athletes joined forces throughout the end of January and beginning of February to help keep the less fortunate warm as temperatures across the landscape of the AMCC continued to drop.

Student-athletes and athletic departments across the AMCC collected winter socks, gloves, and hats to donate to local homeless shelters across the region. Socks were the main focus of the campaign, as they are an extremely high-need item for homeless people, especially during the winter months, when there is the risk of frostbite. Homeless people often have shoes but no socks, and the danger often goes unnoticed until it is too late.

In total, the AMCC collected 1,769 pairs of socks, 141 pairs of gloves, 113 winter hats, 343 miscellaneous items (such as hand warmers, scarves, tops, etc), and $140. Items were donated to local shelters and other organizations within each campus' local community such as the Buffalo City Mission, Franciscan Works of Mercy, Altoona Rescue Mission, Community Health Net & the Mental Health Association Homeless Shelters in Erie, and the Bradford Head Start Program and Bradford Care for Children.

In addition to the SAAC for Socks campaign, AMCC student-athletes have been busy with many other community service projects throughout the academic year.

D'Youville College - The men's basketball team hosted multiple cancer awareness nights...The men's and women's basketball teams helped feed the less fortunate during the Thanksgiving holiday, while also recognizing and honoring veterans...Spartan student-athletes took part in the Special Olympics Polar Plunge whil also raising funds for the Special Olympics at Woodlawn Beach.

Franciscan University - Hosted Kuzma Community Day to honor the memory of the late Henry "Hank" Kuzma while taking the time to thank its many generous sponsors.

Hilbert College - Baseball, softball, and women's basketball teams took part in Special Olympic events...The men's basketball team helped to beautify a local highway through the Adopt-A-Highway program, while also making financial and food donations to the Buffalo City Mission...MBB head coach Rob deGrandpre was a celebrity reader for a local elementary school...the women's basketball team assisted with the local Habitat for Humanity.

Mount Aloysius College - The Mountie women's volleyball team hosted a Pink Out night to support breast cancer awareness and also hosted a free volleyball clinic for local kids ages 5-12.

Medaille College - The Maverick baseball team raised $7,792 in their Bald for Bucks campaign to help in the fight against cancer.

Penn St. Altoona - The Lions' men's basketball team started the year off by signing an 11-year-old boy with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy to a letter of intent in order for him to regularly attend practices, games, team meals, and other events throughout the 2018-19 season...The Lions participated in the NCAA Division III National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s “50 for 50th Challenge,” as the NCAA Division III National SAAC has challenged each Division III institution to have at least 50 student-athletes participate in Special Olympics events this year to honor the Special Olympics' 50th anniversary...PSA met this challenge with multiple Special Olympic partnerships throughout the year...Members of Penn State Altoona’s SAAC got in the Halloween spirit while serving the community, as they participated in the Safe Trick-or-Treat event held on campus.

Penn St. Behrend - The Lion baseball team once again shaved their heads to raise money (over $1,000) for Grady's Decision, a non-profit organization created to help families experiencing premature births as well as those families with children needing specialized medical attention...Men's basketball players participated in the "Stay in to Win" program which uses the game of basketball as a tool to communicate the importance of staying in school and succeeding by graduating.

Pitt-Bradford - Panther student-athletes teamed up with McKean County Special Olympics for Bowling with a Buddy...The men's and women's swimming teams hosted a Special Olympic swim meet...Members of the baseball team assisted with setting up for the annual Bradford Christmas parade...The Panther softball team volunteered at the Bradford Manor Harvest Dinner for the fourth straight year...The UPB Athletic Department hosted its fourth annual Teal There's a Cure campaign at their Feb. 2 basketball double-header to raise money and awareness for ovarian cancer...The men's and women's tennis programs hosted the third annual Hot Paws campaign, where they collected hats, mittens, socks and scarves to distribute to the local children who need them the most...The Panther women's soccer team spent a Sunday afternoon volunteering their time with members of the Bradford youth soccer community, as they spoke to the youth players about their playing experiences growing up, and then played a fun pick up game.

Pitt-Greensburg - Members of the Bobcat men's and women's basketball teams helped local families in need by helping pack "chemo comfort totes which were then distributed to adult patients at the Arnold Palmer Cancer Center, Mt. View, in Greensburg, as well as children's patients at UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh...The Panthers hosted SOPA Hoops Saturday, bringing athletes representing Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) Westmoreland County to the Pitt-Greensburg campus to compete in exhibition contest that took place at halftime of the men's game on Feb. 9.